Tag Archives: city

Here is my new paper for International Seminar on Partnership for Sustainable Housing and Urban Development, will be held this week (15-16 October 2015) in Mercure Grand Mirama Hotel Surabaya. The Seminar is arranged by Regional Center for Community Empowerment on Housing and Urban Development and Research Institute for Housing and Human Settlements, Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Indonesia.

ABSTRACT: Pedestrian way is one important element in urban planning. It builds spatial network which interconnect spaces in the city. The pedestrian path has important roles which support green open space network. Network of pedestrian ways are in some cases abandoned and disregard its importance as compared to other open space determined as public space or plaza. In many cities of developing countries, pedestrian way is also malfunctioned as parking space, selling area, not even people-friendly at all. From several case studies of people friendly pedestrian in cities, this study would like to identify roles of pedestrian way in building character of city image. To sustain, the character of people friendly-pedestrian has to be included when planning pedestrian as connecting space network in the city. The results are important to give recommendations of how to implement people friendly pedestrian which serves its function, but is also convenient and builds character of the city image.

Never expected to be in the same place for twice, but now I am in Losari, beach frontline of the City of Makassar. This time I have a different view, a glimpse of sunset.
Sunset by the beach is always beautiful. Watching the sun goes down very slowly, should be spent with someone special. It is the moment when you never wanted to lose anything even just for a second.

A view to Losari Beachfront

The sun almost set

When the sun goes down

At eevening in Losari, there are many people with their families bringing their children to play in public city space.
Such vibrant live brings value to the city. It gives new identity, new public place, new risen activities, which a public space should have.

I miss travel days, thus I decided to continue my travel story in SG. I think my followers have been wondering and waiting when I will continue my story or whether I will really continue it.

On day 04, it was on Saturday, our family went to Orchard Road, the famous shopping street in Singapore. Big malls were on each side of the street. Almost all malls are exclusive, full of luxurious boutiques which provide branded clothings from shirts, dresses, shoes, bags, and its accessories. Wecan find ION Orchard, Nge Ann City (Takashimaya), Tang Plaza, Paragon Mall, Lucky Plaza, Wheelock Place, Isetan, and many hotels also nearby.

The pedestrians are indeed wide and very comfortable for people to walk. Some street vendors are also available, like the famous ice cream uncle (ice cream block in between two slices of bread). Along the street, we will also find street mucisians, art performance or at sometime magicians with their magic skills.

Even the pedestrian crossing bridge is clean, we can see orchard road from above. If we don’t like to climb the stairs, we can use crossing tunnel down below the street. The tunnel goes also to MRT Orchard Station. What more amazing is the crossing tunnel in the intersection road. I got confused where to go up in between Isetan, Wheelock Place, Ion Orchard, and Tang Plaza.

The information for tourists is available in tourists’ info kiosk in a form of ticket cube. I found that this is only temporary kiosk, thus it may not be on that point anymore in another time. The ticket cube is interesting, it have lights which show different colors, one color at a time: pink, purple, blue, and green. And if we show our passports, we will get some merchandize inside. It was very interesting to me. You can do many things around the street, just sitting, walking eating, shopping, photo making, from day till night, and it is quite safe there.

Definitely I will visit Singapore again. It is much recommended to visit, despite its expensiveness. But when, with whom, do not know yet.